Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel has addressed Romelu Lukaku’s current role within the national team ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash against Turkey, making it clear that the country’s all-time leading scorer is not guaranteed a starting spot.
Speaking at a press conference, Van Bommel faced intense questioning regarding Lukaku’s limited minutes in recent fixtures against Italy and France.
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While emphasizing that the 33-year-old striker remains a vital part of the squad, the manager pointed to a lack of regular playing time at club level with Fenerbahçe as a key factor in his selection decisions.
“It is absolutely not the case that Romelu cannot come on or start. Quite the opposite,” Van Bommel told a press conference on Thursday ahead of the match in Liege.
“It depends on what we think we need in a particular phase or situation. He has certain qualities, but I felt that in that match we were playing a little further away from goal, which meant we could use pace. The only disadvantage is that he hasn’t played much for Fenerbahce.
“You have to take that into account. I also explained to him that I chose pace, not because he is doing badly, because he is training well. But it’s not the case that you play based on good training sessions, or vice versa. But you don’t need to read anything major into it.
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“As a player, you always want to play. We have 24 outfield players, which is more than usual. Don’t worry about it. Romelu has experienced everything. He hasn’t always played at his clubs and has sometimes had to fight for his place. No worries,” the coach repeated.
Despite concerns over his club form and physical management, Lukaku remains Belgium’s talisman with 93 international goals, though he will have to fight to earn his place back in the starting XI as the Red Devils prepare to face Turkey.
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